At the Houston Hilton Mark was involved in a game of poker with a group of the guys. And although he was the best player of the guys there he was steadily losing. He couldn't get his mind off of that girl from the gym, all he knew was her name. Cassie Lord. It was a strange, women never affected him likes this, well not anymore. When he was much younger is body used to react this way but still they never engaged his mind, this young woman had engaged his mind and body completely.

"Mark?" Shawn said louder, the ten men around the table watched as Mark snapped back to reality.

Mark looked around and cursed himself for letting her get to him. Without a word he stood and chucked his cards down and left with ten sets of eyes on his retreating back.

"What's got him so caught up?" Shawn asked.

"Dunno." Glenn muttered.

"Better not be that piece from the gym. I'll have her under me before the week is out!" Dave said getting a round of grins.

"Don't worry man she aint his type." John said trying to be a calming influence.

Meanwhile Mark was driving the 45 minute drive home to his ranch in Marsden. He hoped his daughter was still awake, he'd been on the road for two weeks and missed her. When he pulled off the highway he was surprised at how quick the drive had been when he had something to look forward to. Mark pulled hist ruck into the garage and laughed when Jess walked in half asleep, he gave her a hug and they carried his bags into the kitchen.

"How you going sweetheart?"

Mark set about making coffee as Jess curled up on one of the stools at the bench.
"I'm good daddy. The girls said they'd both come to dinner tomorrow."

"Great. How's university?"

"Me, Cass and Dani are leading the year, I hope you don't mind but I gave up on that sorority crap. I could not handle one more convo about nail polish. Plus the girls aren't in one so its all good. And Peter and I called it quits as well but that's nothing new."

Mark could tell that his daughter wasn't upset about the break up, in fact he could see something mischevious flirting through her eyes.

"So long as your happy. Are you happy?"

"I am now, I wasn't a while ago but Cass helped me through it. She was absolutely right you know, all I needed was a passion and now I've got a one I'm perfect. Plus it benefits them completely not that Cass needs help with it, but its' just something that we can do together."

"Jess explain!" She laughed at her dads worried expression.

"Pilates. I go to classes four times a week at Uni, it is so good. I mean after ten minutes you feel so strectched and peaceful plus I've never been this flexible before in my life. Daddy do you mind if I get some more tattoo's if they mean something?"

"Jess you're a grown woman. If you want tattoo's than get tattoo's."

Mark smiled as she leaned across the bench and kissed him on the cheek.

"Just so ya know Michelle ain't welcome here no more specially when I'm not." Jess nodded. "Now get your ass to bed!"

Jess disappeared quickly and Mark went to his room with his bags. Although he slept soundly his dreams were occupied but Cassie Lord.

Cassie arrived for word as a receptionist in stunning style. Skinny leg jeans, a black wifebeater and black ballet flats, around her waist was a stylish brown belt to off throw her black handbag. She was working part time as a receptionist for a small boutique law firm, Thurston and Cole. Both Thurston and Cole were women and understood that the more comfortable their workers were the more successful the firm would be. The only dress code was that they had to be preentable, good at their jobs and not let personal issues cloud their work. Both understood her to the full and saw something special in Cassie's eyes.

Setting up her desk Cassie distributed the coffee and cakes before settling down to work. If there was no work to be done they allowed her to work on her studies and pick their brains. It was a slow morning so Cassie got quite a bit of study done, she was more than prepared for her next assignments.

It was three p.m. when Cassie pulled into the gym car park, it was quite full but not surprising with the WWE in town. Quickly changing she met Susie at the counter, Susie told her to complete her running and Pilates and she would catch up. The gym was pretty full of men including Dave and the green eyed giant, his eyes traced her figure as she went to the treadmill. Cassie began jogging and worked her way up to running, she could hear a few of the women commenting on her but she ignored them.

Mark had noticed Cassie enter and send a look his way before beginning her workout. As she began to flat out run he saw Dave go over and try to charm her into god knows what, she ignored him completely. Being able to see her face he was right about it matching the rest of her. She had pure blue eyes and although she wasn't skinny by comparison to the Diva's she was truly beautiful. She had curves in all the right places, he didn't understand why Dave was bothering she was nothing like his other women.

Mark tried to concentrate on his own workout and the conversation that Glenn and Shawn were holding about him. He watched as Dave followed her to the mats and continued to talk to her, she ignored his every word.

"he just needs some good pussy!" Shawn stated snapping Mark back to attention.
"Excuse me?"

"You weren't paying any attention." Glenn said.

"Well if you didn't speak shit all the time then I wouldn't be tempted to zone out."

"you wanna come out tonight?" Shawn asked.

"Busy, so no!" Both mens eyes came to his face. "I'm spending time with my daughter."

During the rest of his workout Mark kept an eye and his brain on Cassie, but knew she was safe because Susie was with her.

At 4:30 Cassie hugged Susie and headed back to the locker room. She could hear the women speaking and cringed at how nasty they were. After her shower Cassie got dressed and headed out into reception. Stepping through the door she collided into a huge mass of muscle, if that person hadn't grabbed hold of her she wouldn't have stayed standing. Cassie felt the tension in the huge body and was worried that she'd hurt him, looking up her eyes met pure green.

Mark was watching the much smaller woman with interest, she had completely tensed and he could tell that she was extremely nervous. He too was finding the situation uncomfortable but for a different reason. However it wasn't until she looked up and thei eyes locked that he knew he was a goner. Her eyes were like clear blue pools of water and he couldn't help noticing how well she fit into his arms. Trying his hardest to reshackle his demons he let her go so she was steady on her feet,

"Sory I didn't see you." He spoke quietly.

"Umm I walked into you. Sorry." He heard her Australian accent and smiled.

"I should've been watching Darlin', plus I'm a lot bigger than you, I could've killed ya!"

Cassie laughed and smiled at the sound of his voice and accent.

"I'm not sure about killed me, but hurt yes. Thankyou for not letting me fall."

She had no idea why but she was feeling a little confident about talking to him.

"I'm Mark."

"Cassie, sorry but I have to go now."

"Have fun." Mark watched her leave and then uncomfortably entered the mens locker room hoping it was empty. Although he'd managed to keep his demons reined he was still incredibly hard, she had fit against him so perfectly. Lecturing himself he headed for a cold shower.

Dani appeared in Cassie's lounge room at 5:45 in black leggings and a long blue shirt, on her feet were stiletto gladiator sandals. Cassie was very low key in comparison. She was wearing her pale denim skinny legs a black belt, a black tank top covered by an oversized check shirt. At dead on six p.m. Jess came walking in wearing skinny legs tucked into stiletto boots with a quite revealing top on.

"okay ladies, let's go." Cassie announced and followed the two outside.

"Cass if you follow in your car then you won't be stuck."

Cassie pulled out behind them and turned her music up really loud. There was a fourty five minute drive where she let her mind wander back to that hard male body that had been pressed to hers.

Pulling off of the highway Cassie noticed the house, she stepped out of her car and could smell her favorite meal, Rogan Josh. Jess let them into the house and guided them into the kitchen, Cassie was the last inside. When she entered the kitchen it was just Dani and Jess.

"Dad's having a shower, I'll show you around."

Jess led them on a tour of the house, even taking them outside to see the stables. Going back inside Cassie had her back to everyone looking out at the sunset and the paddocks.

"Cass this is my dad Mark."